Cakes, along with sandwiches and scones with jam and clotted cream, are a fundamental part of afternoon tea. They come in an almost infinite number of varieties, which can make it very difficult to narrow the choice down to six.
If you choose afternoon tea box delivery from a company such as www.afternoonteabox.com/, you can choose from a wide range of cakes, including gluten-free, dairy-free, and vegan options; alternatively, you may want to test your baking skills.
1. Coffee and walnut cake
Adding coffee can give this cake a touch of bitterness to offset other, fruitier options. You may choose to add extra spices, such as cardamom, to freshen it up, and decorate it with some walnut halves.
2. Berry and lemon mascarpone loaf
Sweetness and sharpness combine in this cake. It can be made with your choice of berries, including raspberries and blueberries. The zing is offset by the mascarpone, which also helps keep it moist.
3. Flourless almond cake
You can make this with lemon, orange, or chocolate, but the important thing is the substitution of flour for ground almonds. This means it is gluten-free, which is important if someone has coeliac disease.
4. Apple and ginger pound cake
Apple is sweet, but not overpoweringly so, and ginger can add a pleasing warmth. Cinnamon can also be a good choice of spice. Top with cream cheese icing to balance the flavours.
5. Marble spiced bundt cake
Bundt cake’s ring shape makes it look distinctive even without the notable marbled pattern and drizzled icing. Not only a visual feast, you can bring it to life with spices such as nutmeg and cloves, plus a sharp splash of Cointreau.
6. Kladdkaka
This chocolate cake is of Swedish origin. Dark, rich, and sticky, the gooey centre is the result of deliberate undercooking. Serve with cream to stop the powerful flavour from being too overwhelming.
These six cakes should provide a diverse range of flavours for your afternoon tea, and there is lots of room for variation if you want to experiment with different ingredients.